BDA’s plan worries Forest Department

BDA’s plan worries Forest Department
Thursday July 10 2008 11:20 IST

Bosky Khanna

Get a 30% discount on Calls to India.

BANGALORE: The Forest Department, NGOs and the Court will soon have another problem to deal with.

After private organisations having commercially utilised the lake, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) now similar plans.

BDA, with a Rs 150 crore budget, will develop 12 lakes in Arkavathi Layout, Sir M Visveswaraya Layout, Banashankari 6th stage and Anjanapura Layout. BDA will soon call for tenders to revive, restore the lakes and introduce recreation facilities.

Recently, based on High Court orders, the Forest Department submitted a detailed status report on three privatised lakes - Nagawara tank, Hebbal and Agara lake. The desilting and commercialisation of lakes has caused the bird population in these areas to dwindle.

BDA proposes to fence the area, reconstruct waste weir, strengthen earthen bunds, construct ring bunds for walkways, construct wetland ponds for silt settlement, leap weir construction for sewage flow diversion, remove weeds and silt, develop parks and sewage treatment plants and introduce recreation facilities.

Funds for all this will be sanctioned under the JNNURM project. Rs 25 crore has been earmarked for the work this year. The cost will also be shared by the Union and State governments.

"BDA is presently focusing on the development of the lakes and strengthening the bunds. Measures to reduce water pollution will be given prime importance. Recreational activities will be taken up later, if warranted," BDA Commissioner Siddhaiah told this website's newspaper.

The Forest Department is now worried about the development of these lakes. The Department is to hand over 17 lakes to the BDA, including Puttenehalli lake in Yelahanka which awaits the bird reserve tag, for development.

A senior Forest Department official said: "If this is the case, then the Department will reconsider the plan. The plan is subject to changes based on the Court's decision. It is important to ascertain whether lakes help biodiversity or merely meet water scarcity."

The lakes to be developed are Jakkur and Sampigehally (160.30 acres), Rachenahally (36.07) and Venkateshapura (6.35) in Arkavathi Layout;

Ullal (24), Kommaghatta (32.72), Mallathahally (50.38) and Ramasandra (101.27) in Sir M Visveswaraya Layout;

Thalaghattapura (25.07), Konasandra (38.28), Sompura (18.27) in BSK 6th stage and Kothanur lake (18.09) in Anjanapura Layout.